Regional Building Consultants News

Dependent Persons Unit

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 03:06:37 GMT

Transitional period for Dependent Persons Units has been extended.

As of the 3rd March 2025, amendment VC266 was gazetted into the Planning Scheme, this amendment extends the timeframe for the temporary planning provisions that allow for the use and development of land for a Dependent Persons Unit (DPU) by one year to 28 March 2026.

The amendment also updates the permit requirements for DPU proposals affected by particular overlays. These overlays are assessed on an individual job basis, but the provisions still seek to allow dependent persons units to be constructed without the need for a planning permit in most cases.

NSW Building Legislation Amendment

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:33:02 GMT

Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023 has commenced

The Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 received assent from the Governor on 11 December 2023. Schedules 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the Building Legislation Amendment Act 2023 have commenced operation.

Amendments in Schedule 2 of the Act that relate to building product safety will commence at a later date to be prescribed. This commencement will be settled in consultation with industry.

The Act makes amendments to building and strata legislation that are designed to uplift the standards of construction on homes being built across NSW, and to prevent unscrupulous builders from operating in the market.

Understanding the NCC - Farm Buildings & Sheds

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 23:13:08 GMT

The National Construction Code (NCC) is Australia’s performance-based building and plumbing code.

It sets the minimum technical requirements for the construction of new buildings (and new building work in existing buildings). The primary concern of the NCC is to ensure the life safety of people in buildings.

This includes buildings used for farming purposes. This document looks at the requirements in NCC Volume One specifically relating to sheds and buildings located on farms.

The provisions in the NCC relating to farm buildings and sheds distinguish the difference between buildings used primarily for farming purposes and buildings used for other storage, manufacturing or processing purposes.

The requirements of Part H3 of NCC Volume One set out additional or exemptions relating to are either additional or exemptions to other building code requirements contained within Sections C, D, E and F of NCC Volume One, for farm buildings and farm sheds.

Bushfire Areas and Overlays

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 22:46:26 GMT

Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)

The residential building standard for bushfire protection aims to improve the ability of a building to withstand a bushfire attack. This provides greater protection for the occupants who may be sheltering inside while the fire front passes.

The following chart outlines how the baseline data, which is defined as a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL), determines the type of construction required for you to obtain a building permit.

The BAL takes into consideration a number of factors, including the Fire Danger Index, the slope of the land, types of surrounding vegetation and its proximity to any building.

Pool and Spa Inspections and Compliance

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 22:39:34 GMT

On 1 December 2019, new laws to improve swimming pool and spa safety came into effect in Victoria. It is mandatory for owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located to register their pool or spa with the relevant council.

Owners are also required to have their safety barriers inspected and to lodge a certificate of barrier compliance with their council. If a safety barrier is not compliant, it is the owner’s responsibility to make the barrier compliant.

The new laws apply to swimming pools and spas that are capable of holding more than 300 mm (30 cm) of water. This includes permanent pools, above ground pools, indoor pools, hot tubs, bathing or wading pools, and some relocatable pools.

Relocatable pools that do not consist of multiple components and do not require any assembly are not subject to the barrier requirements. An example of such a product is a small inflatable pool that requires no assembly other than inflation.

VBA Building Technical Bulletin – December 2022

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 22:28:54 GMT

The VBA Technical Bulletin

Includes the latest building news and industry updates from the Victorian Building Authority.

NCC 2022

Thanks to those that took part in the VBA's NCC 2022 Roadshow. It was a huge success, with strong numbers seen both in person and online across the state. If you missed these sessions or want to learn more, watch a recording of the NCC 2022 Roadshow building webinar.

As part of our commitment to getting industry up-to-speed with all these changes, the VBA is working to update all relevant Practice Notes. We've started by providing updates to Energy Efficiency Practice Notes, which you can find below. All other Practice Note updates will be completed and shared with practitioners in the new year.

NSW Changes to Long Service Levy

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 21:50:04 GMT

Regulation and levy update

The Long Service Corporation (LSC) is pleased to announce the release of the:

The new regulations came into effect on 1 September 2022.

Key changes: Building and construction industry

Raise the levy exemption threshold from $25,000 to $250,000 from 1 January 2023.
Reduce the levy rate from 0.35% to 0.25% of the cost of works from 1 January 2023.
Introduction of the Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) schedule .

The delay with raising the levy exemption threshold and reducing the levy rate was to allow enough time to inform LSC customers and make necessary system changes.

VBA Cladding Levy

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 06:42:47 GMT

Cladding Rectification Levy

In July 2019, the State Government announced its intention to address combustible cladding through a program of grants to fund rectification works for high-risk buildings. The proposed funding arrangements for the grants include the introduction of changes to the building permit levy to raise $300 million (representing half of the $600 million funding announced) over the next five years.

Amendments to the Building Act 1993 in the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Act 2019 will provide for the building permit levy to include an additional cladding levy component. This component is known as the cladding rectification levy. These amendments will commence on 1 January 2020 .

To estimate the cladding rectification levy payable, use our Building permit levy calculator .

Provisions that require building surveyors to calculate the amount of levy payable when applying for a building permit number have been repealed, removing some of the regulatory burden on relevant building surveyors (RBS). It is important to note that an RBS will still be required to provide the VBA with information relating to prescribed events each month.

To find out more information on the legislative changes underpinning the additional levy, view the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Act 2019 and Cladding Safety Victoria Act 2020 on the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website.